2040 documentary more sky’s-the-limit than sky-is-falling

While hardliners on both sides of the current climate-change debate may find the 2040 documentary too fanciful and lightweight, the youngsters who will be living through much of what is projected here will sorely beg to differ.

With 2040, actor-turned-screen-activist Damon Gameau follows up his surprise hit edu-doco That Sugar Filmby taking on a weightier, more complex and contentious issue: the future environmental health of our planet.

As evidenced by his new movie’s G rating, the target audience here is schoolchildren, who will be of adult age by the year quoted in the title.

So too will Gameau’s own infant daughter Velvet, and it is with her in mind that the filmmaker travels the globe for an array of perspectives on how our world might look in just two decades from now.

Damon Gameau, wife Zoe and daughter Velvet in 2040.

The tone immediately struck (and then genially maintained) by 2040 is more sky’s-the-limit than sky-is-falling.

So Gameau’s modest, yet refreshingly upbeat game plan for his self-designed fact-finding mission is all about looking for solutions, rather than anguishing over problems.

The ground rules he has set are simple and relatable. Only environmentally positive technologies and techniques that have already been developed will be put under the microscope during the doco.

Some innovations put forward certainly are worthy of further consideration, particularly if certain wrinkles can be ironed out.

Neighbourhoods using solar-powered micro-grids to capture, use and distribute their own electricity sounds like a great idea. It looks even better in practice, when Gameau shows us how such a system actually functions in rural Bangladesh.

Gameau visits some intriguing projects in 2040.

Other intriguing projects visited by Gameau during his wide-reaching journey include an experiment with vast undersea foresting off the US east coast, and some inspired new farming and soil rejuvenation methods developed right here in Australia.

It goes without saying that 2040 will not be everybody’s cup of tea as a documentary. (And not just because of Gameau’s occasional use of comedy to ease the information overload. The film also feels quite oblivious at times to the economic ramifications of some initiatives put forward.)

Gameau travelled around the world to see how different countries are tackling climate change.

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Nevertheless, while hardliners on both sides of the current climate-change debate may find the whole 2040 exercise too fanciful and lightweight, the youngsters who will be living through much of what is projected here will sorely beg to differ.

2040 is now showing in general release. This Saturday and Sunday only, Palace Cinemas are offering free admission to all viewers under the age of 18 (T&Cs apply).

2040 (G)

Director: Damon Gameau (That Sugar Film)

Starring: Damon Gameau, Zoe Gameau, Velvet Gameau

Rating: ***

Open to bright ideas, no matter how dark the forecast

For all things movies follow Leigh on Twitter @leighpaatsch